What are /r/lurebuilding's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

A kit on Amazon has a ton of them, the kit isn’t great but it got me started and catching fish. here’s the kit I got and here’s some body’s by the same brand

Just a super cheap Master Airbrush kit like this. Although I've ditched the pathetic little compressor in favor of a 3 gallon harbor freight compressor and a separate regulator like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Lurecraft-Plugs-Spinners-Spoons-Catch/dp/1565237803/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=C3V5NZLW1N72&keywords=lurecraft+book&qid=1663723618&sprefix=lurecraft%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1

Here’s the book

I got the jig on Amazon, it's called a Helping Hand. The mesh I pick up from either Walmart in their fabric section, Joanne Fabric or Michaels. But you can get mesh from many things around the house like orange bags, garlic clove mesh bag, swim trunk lining, etc. Look forward to seeing your work!

Sure, here's the link: Croch Blank Crankbaits Unpainted Fishing Lure with Tackle Box

I got the Multi-Type B but I like what's in the Multi-Type A better, more cranks, less top water. This is just blanks, eyes and split shots. I get the hooks from Bass Pro.

I would recommend the Iwata neo for a starter brush cheap enough to not break the bank but good enough you won’t be frustrated with it.

For air compressor I recommend this one. California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S Light & Quiet Portable Air Compressor, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYHYHEA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y0C4R9J4S0YFHHAV10PB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 It’s the one I have and it’s very quiet on the pricier side but totally worth it imho

6 Inch Safety Wire Pliers, Wire Twisting Tool Lock Wire Pliers, Wire Twister Tool for Aircraft Auto Industry https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LPKJ2KW/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_3C9ZJ4XY7HC14299R52Z

These work great for twisting wire.

I can't speak too much about Iwata as I've not used any of their brushes, but I upgraded from a cheap Master airbrush to the Badger 105 Patriot almost a year ago and have been in love with it.

One thing about the 105 Patriot in particular is that it comes out of the box with a larger than normal nozzle/needle than most. 0.3mm is most common, and there's usually the options for 0.2mm and 0.5mm available as replacements. But the Patriot comes with a 0.5mm and, iirc, there's a 0.3mm and a couple going up to 1.0mm or something like that... There's no need to go that large for painting lures, but the larger sizes in general work really well for shooting pearlized paints, which I use a lot on my lures... With the larger nozzle/needles, you have to exercise a little more trigger control and usually dial back the pressure for smaller details, but they're still doable with some practice. But for big, even base coats, fades across larger areas, and once again, those pearlized paints, it just shoots especially smooth.

Side note.... what kind of compressor are you using? I started with the cheap Master airbrush, but even that thing performed better when I ditched the little tiny compressor that came with the kit in favor of a 3-gallon harbor freight compressor and separate regulator/moisture trap. It's much louder and it cycling on and off would always make me jump until I got used to it, but it does give a much more consistent working pressure which helped even the cheap brush a lot.

I checked amazon and for some reason mostly basswood comes up when you search for balsa. I did find this though: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQWULK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 it is quite a bit more wood by volume that the Balsa Wood Inc company and it is $7 on Prime. I am going to order that one.

It’s what I started with and used for 3 years. It’s surprising what you can do with it

HUBEST Portable Mini Air Compressor Airbrush Kit for Make up Art Painting Tattoo Spray Model with Airbrush Cleaning Set Air Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H7DX158/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_iHS7FbMF98MN3

Devcon 2 Ton shouldn't have any problems with yellowing. It's definitely my preferred option-- it's self leveling, which means brush strokes and other blemishes aren't really much of an issue, and the slower curing time allows for applying onto multiple lures at once without needing to rush. It's also extremely tough, and it's the only epoxy I'd EVER consider using just a single coat of on any baits intended for big toothy fish like pike or muskie without worrying about my hard work being ruined by those razor sharp teeth(I still prefer to use at least two coats, however, because it only makes it that much tougher while also smoothing everything out extra nicely).

It’s called Solarez . Like $70 a gallon but I was using it for other stuff and just decided to try it on lures. I think I’ll still use it and put an epoxy coat over that as that seems to make it smoother because the UV resin already smooths the surface of any imperfections but doesn’t make it as clear and glossy as I would like.

I've been using .032" stainless steel lockwire, as recommended at one point by Marling Baits in one of his videos. A single strand is flexible enough to wrangle into a through-wire, but it holds bends and creases well. And when twisted, it's pretty rigid and twists into a 1/16" hole nicely.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00EUROQUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Professional Master Airbrush Multi-Purpose Gravity Feed Airbrushing System Kit with a U.S. Art Supply 6 Primary Opaque Colors Acrylic Paint Artist Set - G22 Gravity Feed Airbrush and Air Compressor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZXNPUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tcArFbSBSRZE7

Remember to put it on b4 the clearcoat and it always helps to make an eye socket. These are the eyes that I use and they look awesome. You might want to get the 4d ones because they look more like actual fish eyes. lure eyes

Try amazon smile to donate to charity automatically at no cost to you!
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00EUROQUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
^^^I'm ^^^a ^^^bot ^^^and ^^^this ^^^action ^^^was ^^^preformed ^^^automatically.

Here is a link to a 1lb bucket of stainless steel wire. It’s .032in in diameter which is what Nate Marling uses but personally I think it’s too light. I’d get the .041in diameter wire which will hold up much longer. It all depends on what you fish for as well. For perch .032 is fine but for musky it’d break in a heartbeat. For bass it’s 50/50 for me. If you could tell us what you plan on fishing for then that’d help narrow it down. You can also get single strands of wire from Janns Netcraft or Lure Parts Online if you don’t need a pound of the wire.